Odds-indicator.



Patented Sept. 2, |902. D. W. MARIUN.

ODDS |ND|CATOR.

(Application tiled Jam. 30, 1902.)

(No Model.)

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DAVID W. MARION, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

ODDS-INDICATOR SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 708,379, dated September 2, 1902.

Application iiled January 30, 1902. Serial No. 91,927. iNo model.)

To @ZZ when@ it may con/cern:

Be it known that I, DAVID WAYNE MARION, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented a certain new and useful Odds-Indicator, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to odds-indicators, the object being to provide an indicator of such construction and arrangement as to enable one or more operators to advantageously display, show, exhibit, or advertise the rst, second, or changing and closing odds of all animals entered in running or trotting races.

A further object of the invention is to provide in connection with a stationary scheduleboard having spaces or compartments and holding means for a series of cards bearing the `names of the animals and jockeys a iiexible rack which is mounted inthe frame of the indicator upon a suitable track and guide and adapted to be shifted or moved to the desired extent behindthe stationary scheduleboard, so that the surface of the rack may be exposed to any desired extent. Manually- Operated means are employed in connection with the movable rack for shifting the latter back and forth, and the exposed surface of the rack is divided by heavy vertical lines or marks into sections, `while the latter are in turn divided by liner or lighter lines into several vertical columns, the several columns of the sections being intersected at right angles by parallel horizontal lines or divisions, the spaces between which are Iin horizontal alinement with the name-recei ving spaces of the schedule-board and are provided with means for holding numeral-bearing cards, which when properly positioned represent the first, second, or changing and closing odds relating to the animal whose name appears in line therewith in the `proper compartment on the schedule-board.

The main object ofthe invention is to provide an indicator by means of which the various odds may be rapidlyand instantly reproduced as they are received from the bookmakers and publicly displayed, the'first odds being retained inan exposed position until the judges render their decision regarding that race.

.will withstand effects of the weather.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described,illustrated, and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of an odds-indicator constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the dexible rack fully exposed or withdrawn from behind the stationary schedule-board and illustrating the arrangement 'and relative disposition of the odds-indicating cards and the name-bearing cards. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of the same, showing more clearly the construction of the flexible rack and the track on which the same travels. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through a portion of the flexible rack, showing rabbeted cleats and card-holding clasps.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Referring to the drawings, A A B B representa exible rack standing vertically and provided along its bottom edge with a series of rollers n, which rest and travel upon a track or rail g, mounted upon and secured to a suitable base J. The flexible rack is also supported or stayed at the top by means of a superimposed guide-rail J', which in practice will be grooved or rabbeted in its lower edge to receive and permit of the sliding movement of the upper edge of the iiexible rack. The parts .I and J constitute the top and bottom of a framework, the remainder of which consists of an end upright and a stationary schedule-board d f H, the schedule-board being arranged at the opposite end of the frame from the upright G.

The iiexible rack A Bis composed of a large sheet of" any suitable flexible material, preferably some [such material as rubber, which The exposed or front surface of the flexible rack is divided off into a plurality of sections R S T, the sections being defined by intervening vertical lines or strips W W, which may be represented on the surface of the rack by painting the same thereon or by securing vertical Strips of wood or other material to the rack. Each of the sections R S T is subdivided by finer or lighter lines or strips w w into vertical columns to receive nu meral-bear- IOO ing cards, hereinafter referred to'. All of the vertical lines or strips Wr w are intersected or crossed by horizontal lines, which preferably consist of rabbeted cleats, as shown in Fig. 3, the cleats being transversely divided at numerous points to admit of the flexing of the rack as it is moved behind the scheduleboard. The several sections of the rabbeted cleats X are provided with spring-clasps P, adapted to engage and securely hold numeralbearing cards M m, as shown near the top of the `indicator in Fig. 1, which cards are used to4 announce properly the first, second, or changing and closing odds of the race being contested. AtV the head of the several sections R S T are printed or otherwise represented the words First odds, Second odds, and Closing odds, which refer, respectively, to the numbers contained in the sections beneath. It may here be stated that the numeral-bearing cards M 'm are each one foot or more in height, so that the condition of the odds may be seen at a considerable distance from the grand-stand before which the indicator is positioned.

The schedule-board d f H comprises several sections, the first section, or that nearest the flexible rack, being provided with parallel horizontal rabbeted cleats Z, adapted to receive between them a series of cards or slips z, bearing the names of the animals entered in the race. The section f of the board is likewise equipped with parallel horizontal rabbeted cleats Z to receive another set of cards or slips e', bearing the names of the jockeys. The cards .z z may be instantly placed in position, thus enabling the information to be quickly displayed. The lastsection H contains a series of card-holding clasps f, in which a large supply of numeral-bearing cards M m may be placed and held for use when needed in connection with the exible rack A B. The track or rail g extends behind the schedule-board and is recurved, as shown at g', and extended backward in parallel relation with itself, thus providing additional space for the flexible rack when the latter is moved behind the schedule-board.

In order to quickly operate or slide the flexible rack, I employa cord or cable which is connected to the rack at a suitable point, as at b, the cord or cable extending from thence in opposite directions horizontally, one portion of the cable passing around pulleys ao, a, while the other portion of the cable passes around similar pulleys a a' a', the ends of the cable being arranged in convenient relation or close to each other and provided with terminal handles o. The operator by grasping the handles o may move the flexible rack in one direction or the other, as required for exposing the desired amount of surface thereof to the public.

I represents a depending arm or bracket secured to the top guide-rail J and having one of the guide-pulleys a journaled at its lower end to receive the track-operating cable O.

By reference to Fig. l it will be seen that the horizontal rows of numbers placed on the flexible rack are in horizontal alinement with the name-bearing cardsor slips z z' corresponding therewith, and by preference pointers or indicating-hands c are represented between the cards m m and each vertical column of name-bearing cards z z', so as to properly direct the eye to the names of the animals and their jockeys to which the odds-indicating numerals apply. At the head of the section dof the schedule-board may be printed the words Name of horse, while at the head of section f may be pr-inted the words Name of jockey or words of like import.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that l have provided indicating devices adapted to be operated in front of the grandstand at race-tracks for the purpose of furnishing information to the public regarding the changing odds, just as they are furnished to the operator by speaking-tubes, telephone, telegraph, or Vin any other manner, from an assistant located near the makers or layers of the betting odds. The exact betting odds are thus reproduced upon the indicator on a large scale, so that they may be instantly and readily observed by every one in the grandstand, in front of which the indicator as a whole is placed. The construction described admits of the rapid andinstantaneous insertion of the numeral-bearing cards and namebearing cards or slips, and also provides for the rapid movement of the flexible rack, sov

vthat any desired portion of the rack may be exposed to View or concealed behind the schedule-board. At the beginning only the section R of the rack will be exposed, giving the iirst odds. Next the rack will be moved outward, so as to expose the second section S, giving the second or changing odds, and later the final section T will be exposed, so as to announce the closing odds. One or more operators may be utilized to transfer the numeral-bearing and name-bearing cards from one place to another as required. Any additional number of upright sections similar to R S T may be provided, according to desire or necessity.

I do not desire to be limited to the details of construction hereinabove set forth, and accordingly reserve the right to change, modify, or vary the construction within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an odds-indicator, the combination with a stationary schedule-board provided with holding-compartments for a series of name-bearing cards, of a iiexible rack movable horizontally behind the schedule-board and provided with means for holding numeralbearing cards in rows and in alinement with IOO IIO

odds, as and for the purpose specified.

2. In an odds-indicator, the combination with a stationary schedule-board provided with nam e-receiving spaces or compartments, of a flexible rack movable horizontally behind the sched ule-board and divided off into sections for respectively containing the first, second and closing odds, the iiexible rack being further divided off horizontally and provided with means for holding numeral-bearing cards arranged in horizontal rows and alining with the spaces on the schedule'- board to represent in figures'the first, second A and closing odds, substantially as described.

3. In an odds-indicator, the combination with a stationary schedule-board provided withname-receiving spacesorcompartments,

of a fiexible rack movable horizontally be? hind the schedule-board and divided by heavy vertical lines into sections and each section subdividedbyotherverticalline'sintocolumnspaces, the several columns of the sections having means for holding numeral-bearing cards in horizontal alinement with the spaces or compartments of the scheduleboard, for displaying the first, second and closing odds, substantially as set forth.

4. In an odds-indicator, the combination with a stationary schedule-board provided with name-receiving spaces or compartments, anda trackhaving one end extended laterally on one side of the schedule-board and its other end recurved behind the same, of a flexible rack mounted to travel on the track and movable behind the schedule-board, said rack being divided off to receive and having `means for holding odds-indicating cards in alinement with the name spaces or compartments of the schedule-board, and means for shifting the flexible rack, substantially as described.

5. In an odds-indicator, a frame comprising a track at the base, a superimposed guiderail, and a stationary schedule-board having name-receiving spaces, of a fiexible rack having its lower portion mounted on the track and its upper portion in engagement with the guide-rail, and means for moving said rack behind the schedule-board, the rack being divided off into vertical columns and horizontal rows and provided with holders for engaging and displaying odds-indicating cards in alinement with the name-spaces of the sched nie-board, substantially as described.

6. In anodds-indicator, a frame comprising a track at the bottom, a superimposed guide rail, and a stationary schedule-board having name-receiving spaces, of a flexible rack mounted on the track and stayed by the guiderail, said rack having means for holding and displaying odds indicating cards in alinement with the name-spaces on the schedule# board,and an operating cord or cable fastened at an intermediate point to the flexible rack and running from thence in opposite directions around guide-pulleys on the frame, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID W. MARION. Witnesses:

N. REYNoLs, GEO. E. Fnncn. 

